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Comfort Food and Classic Eats that Happen to be Vegan

Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup

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This Italian Lemon Barley soup will transport you immediately to Tuscany. It’s perfectly balanced with the brightness of the lemon, earthiness of the rosemary, and heartiness of the barley. So, dive into your new favorite go-to!

Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup next to a white and red napkin with rosemary and on a wood cutting board

The best part of this one pot meal is the simplicity of the ingredients and the fact that it is so easy to make. After all, when you’re in the middle of a tough week at work and nothing seems to be going right, you still deserve to have a delicious homemade meal without a ton of hassle. Am I right? This soup is the perfect way to have exactly that; all ease and zero struggle.

Just because this recipe is easy to make, doesn’t mean that it’s lacking in taste, because, flavor is everything.  The lemon and rosemary are both strong flavors. You’ll find a bright citrus essence from the lemon and an almost pine like earthiness from the rosemary, and they compliment each other perfectly. Add the acidity and slight smokiness of the fire roasted tomatoes and you’ll agree that the base of the broth is purely divine.

But that’s not where the flavor of the broth ends. There are also Italian spices, a touch of sea salt, and a little bit of black pepper to add some heat to the soup.

Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup in a white bowl on a wood board with rosemary in the background

WHY VEGETABLE BARLEY SOUP IS A HEALTHY FOOD CHOICE

Ok, so now that we’ve convinced you that the broth in this soup is delicious and that the soup is easy to make, let’s talk about why it’s a healthy choice for a quick meal.

Just because this soup is simple, does not mean that it’s deprived of nutrients. To start off this nutrition info sesh, let’s chat about its main ingredient: Barley.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BARLEY

Say sayonara to the days of having to have dairy to build strong bones.  Barley is taking dairy’s place and it’s here to stay. This ancient grain has iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and… drum roll please… CALCIUM!  All these ingredients combine together to help our bodies build strong bones without all the negative side effects of animal-derived-dairy. Plus, it really is a delicious tender grain that pairs well with basically any dish!

Still not convinced that this soup should be at the top of the food pyramid? Then let’s keep going down the list of ingredients.

WHY YOU SHOULD EAT MORE CELERY

Celery has been known to lower inflammation, reduce blood pressure, and aids in the prevention of age-related vision loss.

CARROTS SHOULD BE A DAILY FOOD CHOICE

Carrots are very high in antioxidants. And, they’re good for your vision.

TOMATOES ARE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF LYCOPENE

Oh, and tomatoes are a fantastic source of lycopene!

There are also chickpeas for protein and mushrooms, which are turning to be another super food. Who knew?

So, when you add the lemon and rosemary broth to the barley, celery, carrots, mushrooms, chickpeas and fire roasted tomatoes, you get a bowl of super foods that not only taste amazing together, they’ll satisfy you and help your body stay as strong and well as it can be.

Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup with a gold spoon on a wood cutting board with a piece of rosemary on top

So scroll down and write those ingredients on your next grocery list so you can make this incredible, easy, and healthy soup!

Make this and let us know what you think. We love to hear from you! And, don’t forget to take a picture of your gorgeous creation and tag us @veganosity on Instagram.

Let’s connect! Hop on over to our Facebook page and give it a like, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and follow us and share this and other Veganosity recipes on Pinterest. We’d be so grateful if you did. If you like this recipe and can’t wait to see what we’re going to share next, subscribe to Veganosity. Just fill in the subscription box above our picture in the top right corner of the page. And, Alex and I love hearing from you, please leave a comment and let us know what you think of our recipes.

4.38 from 8 votes
A white bowl full of Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup with a gold spoon in the bowl and sprigs of rosemary around it on a wood table
Print
Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup
Prep Time
18 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 3 mins
 

A healthy and delicious lemon rosemary broth with garbanzo beans, fresh vegetables and tomato. Easy to make! 

Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: barley soup, Italian soup, vegetable barley soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 210 kcal
Author: Alex Meyer, MA
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup Dry Barley
  • 3 Cups Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
  • 14.5 oz Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
  • 15.5 oz Garbanzo Beans
  • 3 Medium Carrots peeled and diced
  • 3 Stalks Celery
  • 1 Large White Onion Diced
  • 3 Cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 Cup Diced Baby Bella Mushrooms
  • 3 Sprigs Rosemary
  • 1 Lemon Juiced
  • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 Tsp Sea Salt more or less depending on your tastes
  • ½ Tsp Black Pepper or to taste
Instructions
  1. Heat a large stockpot on medium-high heat.
  2. Once heated add 1 tbsp of veggie broth and the onions.

  3. Sauté the onions until they become translucent, approximately 7 minutes.

  4. Add the carrots, celery, mushrooms, and garlic with another tbsp of vegetable broth. Stir and cook until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 10 minutes.

  5. Continue adding veggie broth in 1 tbsp increments while sautéing the vegetables so they don't stick to the pan. 

  6. Add the garbanzo beans, barley, rosemary, Italian seasoning, crushed tomatoes and the rest of the vegetable broth to the stock pot.

  7. Bring the soup to a boil, then quickly reduce to a simmer.

  8. Cook for approximately 40 minutes, or until the barley is done. It should be firm and chewy, not mushy. 

  9. Add the salt, pepper, and lemon juice and stir to combine. 

  10. Remove the rosemary from the stock pot and serve!
Recipe Notes

The Nutrition Facts are an estimate only. 

Nutrition Facts
Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 210 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Sodium 1009mg 42%
Potassium 507mg 14%
Total Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Dietary Fiber 9g 36%
Sugars 9g
Protein 8g 16%
Vitamin A 115.2%
Vitamin C 19.4%
Calcium 10.2%
Iron 19.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Vegan Italian Lemon Rosemary Barley Soup! It's simple to make and so healthy. #vegan #soup #healthy

 

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Comments

  3. Brittany Roche says

    June 12, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    It's so hard for me to get excited about warm soup in summer, but this recipe has totally changed my mind on that. It SCREAMS summer! I can so see us enjoying this at the beach for Sunday dinner this year; can't wait to try it!
    Reply

    • Alex Meyer, MA says

      June 12, 2018 at 7:04 pm

      Hi Brittany! Your comment actually made me laugh because a dear friend of mine feels the exact way you do about soup during the Summer! She's actually gone so far as to tell waiters that I'm not allowed to order soup haha. I'm so glad this recipe has changed your mind though!
      Reply

  4. Molly says

    June 13, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    This recipe is incredible! A few basic ingredients came together into something transcendent and we couldn't stop eating it. I cooked it for 16 minutes in the Instant Pot, then let the pressure release naturally and the barley was just the right texture, as were the vegetables. I'm planning to make another batch very soon and stash some in the freezer.
    Reply

  7. Valerie Z says

    June 22, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    This looks so delicious! It's the type of recipe that I could see myself making a big batch of and freezing some for those nights I dont want to cook.
    Reply

  10. Rebecca says

    May 11, 2019 at 2:44 pm

    This was great! Mine didn’t have much liquid left at the end of cooking so I’d probably add an extra cup of stock next time, but this recipe tastes so good. I think the best part is it tastes HEALTHY. After eating it I didn’t feel stuffed or tired, I felt energized. Thanks!
    Reply

    • Alex Meyer, MA says

      May 13, 2019 at 2:06 pm

      Hey Rebecca, Thanks for the comment! I've noticed too that sometimes due to varying cooking envirnoments, the barley wants to soak up a lot more of the broth than normal. Adding an extra cup of stock should do the trick, but just remember to adjust your seasoning too due to the extra liquid : ) We're so happy you enjoyed the soup and love that it makes you feel just as good as it makes us feel! Have an awesome week! - Alex & Linda
      Reply

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